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The noise issue is pretty much gone, we worked directly on it for 5 days and 95% gone, the rest will be cleaned up down the road after dog is farther along in basics. Crazy and noisy about retrieving of course was the issue. Pup was pretty wild from the start about retrieving. I thought maybe you guys could tell me some of the things you would do if you had/have issues with your dogs. He's not going to be sold so classifieds are out, real live and true scenario here if you want to compare notes be back later..Randy

First of all thanks so much for your input into this forum. Too many people answer with 'send 'em to a pro' or 'sell the dog'. These high strung dogs are like Thoroughbred race horses. People are expecting them to walk, trot and canter when all they want to do is RUN! There is a way to train them to be very good hunting and trialing dogs, but it must start very early.

Originally Posted by Randy Bohn

I left it go as long as i thought i could still fix it ..fine line when to fix and not fix with a baby dog...older dogs are lots easier but puppy brains work differently.... Randy

I know I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm not sure I totally agree with this line of thought. It is easy to see which pups are driven to retrieve already. They don't need to be amped up constantly with retrieving. More obedience for them. BALANCE

Originally Posted by Randy Bohn

The noise issue is pretty much gone, we worked directly on it for 5 days and 95% gone, the rest will be cleaned up down the road after dog is farther along in basics. Crazy and noisy about retrieving of course was the issue. Pup was pretty wild from the start about retrieving. I thought maybe you guys could tell me some of the things you would do if you had/have issues with your dogs. He's not going to be sold so classifieds are out, real live and true scenario here if you want to compare notes be back later..Randy

It would be really great if you let everyone know what his typical day was like before and then what you did for the past five days step by step.

My guess would be a few days of obedience only. Then start mixing in some marks thrown and only occasional ones retrieved when behavior warrants. Then probably working along side another dog or two taking turns with obedience and marking.

Now finally what is your plan for his typical workday now compared to before. Hopefully this will help all of those who have these high drive pups out there.

I use lots of OB in the presents of marks. Leave the stick and collar out of it. High and tight lead with heeling and sitting while marks are going off. Let the dog see 20+ marks during a week and retrieve maybe 1 or 2. It also helps if you dog associates something with getting to retrieve... like the beep or duck call on winger electronics. I will set up all my wingers push-pull the dog to the one I want then hit the duck call on it, if he is calm through the call, pop the mark. Even if he is calm as the mark comes out keep the lead tight and heel/sit drill away from the mat. Do this many times. The only time you want your dog excited for a mark is when you cut him loose to get it.

I have/had the same type pup. Last spring I went to a Lardy Seminar as an owner/handler primarily for line manners/noise. I can say at least for that seminar, my dog became the poster child of bad line manners. She had a huge problem with whining and even barking in the holding blind, on the way to the mat and while the birds were going down. Mike tried several things on the dog to get a handle on the noise part (she also had a creeping problem) and finally hit upon putting a bumper in her mouth from the truck all the way to being released from the mat. They can't bark or even whine very much with the bumper in the mouth. I continued that for a LONG time after the seminar until I think the dog forgot about making noise. A year later I rarely have a noise issue and if I do, a simple quiet and a nic from the collar quiets her right down. Mike also solved the creeping problem too...at a field trial last summer one of the judges mentioned to me that my dog was one of the best mannered at the trial. Thank you very much Mike Lardy!